This is a great thread Mike, thanks very much for logging your experiences with the Kurz book. And, it's also cool to see the ups and downs that you experience as you try to maintain your training schedule (not that I'm glad you have the 'downs' just that we ALL have them so it reminds me that I shouldn't get too down when I can't train as much as I like).

I've had the Kurz book for awhile, used it for a couple months, didn't see enough gains so stopped. Your thread has motivated me to do at least the dynamic stretches once or twice a day and to do passive stretching AFTER my workouts until I see improvements in my leg flexibility.

As I mentioned before, I found dynamic stretching extremely useful; the science behind it is sound and factual.

If you actually think about it, a regular martial arts class of TKD, Muay Thai, or kickboxing incorporates dynamic streching----every time you throw a kick. The traditional "passive static" stretching at the begining of most classes has probably not helped many people, even though they thought it had.

Ok, my progress:

...or lack thereof. It seems my summer break has "broken" my training momentum. I had posted before that even though I was only hitting class once a week, my flexibility had not changed. Well, after MANY weeks of 1 class/week, I have noticed greater inflexibility at the start of class. My dynamic stretching routine has not changed:

At the satrt of class, front/back/side legs swings, 2 sets.

My leg strength and cardio has also decreased a bit.

The biggest problem seems to be my motivation; my intentions are great, but the excuses to jam on class seems to flow like water. I swear, I'm almost ready to see a clinical hypnotist to get myself focused again.

Just having my 32nd birthday, I took an inventory, if you will, of my physical fitness level. I'm realizing that I can't take long breaks like I used to, and gains take WAY, way longer to attain, and seem to disappear fast if not maintained. Thankfully, I have no nagging injuries holding me back.

I plan on testing in December, so I NEED to get my act together.

_________________________"You do not truly know someone until you fight them."
- Seraph, The Matrix Reloaded

Amen!! It is harder to maintain over 30. I am turning 33 in Decemeber and oh so wish I was 25 again..:) I have incorporate dynamic stretchin and agree it is great. I do dynamic in the am as warm up to my weight routine and then in the evening before mA class.:)

Well I've somehow actually been able to kick myself back into high gear. Maybe the cold weather and short days have driven me back to the dojang.

While I was freaking out a bit about my decrease in flexibiliy, it seems that in just a few weeks it's gone up to where it was, and further!

I measured my side kick height the other night by using the cinderblock lines on the back wall of the school----six and a half feet! So I can actually kick well over my head now.

Granted, that's a right leg kick left is a wee bit lagging, if you catch my drift.

As much as I slam it, I'm concentrating on my passive static stretching after class these days. More to prevent soreness and tightness. Every little bit helps.

Also---and finally---I'm back lifting weights. This will be a tough process for me, since I'm such a hardgainer to begin with. A few years ago I was a solid 185lbs and lean, and I'm 170lbs now. I'd like to get those 15lbs back, but it'll be a long road, I think.

The upper body stuff is cake and pie; it's the lower body that may be tough. I don't want DOMS to hamper my TKD progress, nor do I want to overtrain and become injuried.

I still have great plans (don't I always? lol) for a program of plyometrics and proprioception work, but for now, it's just squats and romainian deadlifts on the legs.

My first day of legs was today, and I'll be interested to see how sore I am for tomorrows TKD class.

I'm also going to Mexico with a large group of friends in March, so maybe that's where all this motivation has come from.....hehe.

_________________________"You do not truly know someone until you fight them."
- Seraph, The Matrix Reloaded

Enjoy Mexico Mike and keep up your training. Myself since injuries never seem to get better I am starting to see some loses but that has to be expected. I hope when I can come back fully at it like you I will see a fast recovery for the height.

Mainly now I have been focusing more on BJJ within our class so flexibility is not "as" important which is good for now but I am itching to get back into kicking again. Because of these stupid injuries I had to skip out on Monday night's class when we had a Muay Thai Instructor come in to teach class. We've delved into clinches, knee and elbow strikes and kicking with our shins more then once but to learn from an actual Instructor ... man I missed out.

Good luck to you and I'll check in every so often to see your progress.